I had no idea what to expect going into the Island Time 6 Hour Run. It was my first time doing this race, and my first time doing any time-based race, period. My training this spring hasn’t really gone as planned, and the longest run I had done to prepare was 8 miles. Although my training plans have often been time based, the long runs and the final race itself has always been distance-based. There’s a set number of miles and a time cutoff. Island Time flipped that all on its head, and honestly it was so fun and freeing.
We rolled into camp on Friday afternoon and set up early. Things definitely looked different from when we’ve been to this location before for Run Woodstock. The main field near the start/finish was almost completely empty, so we found a prime spot between two trees for shade, not far from the start/finish. And we later realized that we were right at about the halfway mark of the two-mile loop we’d be running again and again. That meant we’d have a place to re-fuel at each mile.
Once we got set-up we went to find our friends who were preparing to run the 24 hour race. We headed to packet pickup and then hung out for a bit. Their race started at 7pm, so we made sure to give them a send-off. Kirsten and I spent the next few hours snacking, playing Uno and Skip-Bo, and soaking in the good vibes from the headlamps bouncing past our site.
It was such a chill environment. I felt surprisingly prepared, like I had actually packed smart and wasn’t scrambling last minute.
Until Saturday morning.
I went to get dressed and realized one crucial piece of gear was missing: my sports bra. I had brought a comfy low-impact sports bra for lounging around, but it was not made for six hours of running trails. Oh well, there was nothing I could do but laugh and roll with it. That’s the beauty of Island Time. No pressure. No cutoff. Just six hours to do whatever felt good, at whatever pace my running garments (or lack thereof) would allow.
My original goal was 10 miles, the mileage I had on my training plan. After that I just planned to walk if I was going to do anymore loops. As I checked the loops off one by one, I thought, “wow this feels really easy.” The trail was forgiving, the weather was gorgeous, and the vibe was relaxed. Before i knew it, I had completed four loops – 8 miles, which was the longest run I had done before this, and I honestly felt great.
My friend Kirsten’s goal was to complete 10 loops, or 20 miles. We finished our first five loops together, getting me to my goal, and she joked with me – “You sure you don’t wanna go for 20 miles?” I laughed, I really didn’t, and I thought well I’ll do one more loop of walking. I still felt so good, though, and we still had over 3 hours left to run. Kirsten ran ahead on her own, and I slowly ran and walked another loop. After I finished that one I figured why not run another loop and get a half marathon out of it?
I stopped at camp after hitting the half marathon mark. I texted Kirsten to find out where she was – she had just started her 8th loop. I told her where I was and that I’d meet her to run with her when she passed. She said ok! So I joined her for her final two loops so she could hit her goal, and we crossed the finish (loop 10 for her and loop 9 for me) together.
We were sore, tired, and ready to EAT. Both Kirsten and I are dietitians and foodies lovers, so we did it right. Kirsten made chicken salad, bruschetta dip, boat dip, and brownie dip for a sweet finish. I provided the vessels for dipping: rolls, chips, crostinis, crackers and cookies. We feasted like trail royalty. After fueling up and relaxing for a bit, we headed for the showers.
And what did Megan forget? Fortunately, Kirsten knows me well enough to anticipate these things and brought an extra. Crisis averted. Post-run showers are an almost religious experience… and mine included having to dance around several times to keep the motion detected light from leaving me in the dark.
Clean, full, and cozy, we crawled into the tent for a much-needed nap. Later, we wandered over to the bonfire and ended up chatting with some of the other runners, including “Tractor Tom” from Woodstock. There’s something really special about the post-race hangout – everyone complaining about sore and tired legs, sharing stories of their experience – what went well and what kinda sucked. Something happens out there on the trail that bonds these runners in a way that doesn’t compare to road running.
While we were chit-chatting around the fire, we noticed a furry creature emerge from the woods. It headed towards our camp and we realized it was a raccoon. He was actually quite polite – he got into our trash, but didn’t make a mess. He just snacked on a few of our leftovers and snagged a pop can to take back with him. Possibly for decorating his little woodland home? We respected the hustle.
All in all, my first time-based race experience was everything I didn’t know I needed. The lack of pressure, the supportive community, the mix of movement and rest – it all reminded me how much I love this sport when it’s about joy, not just performance. Island Time might have been my first time-based event, but it definitely won’t be my last. Hopefully next time I’ll remember the sports bra… and maybe even a towel. But then again, forgetting things might just be part of my race tradition and even a good luck charm at this point.
RD on the Run 